But Marcus Trescothick could have no arguments when he was caught behind for a brilliant 99.

After Hussain won the toss for the first time in 11 Tests and decided to bat first, the openers saw England into the second session without mishap but they were clawed back to 175 for three at tea with Trescothick one run short of a century.

Hussain had actually lost his last 14 tosses in international cricket but his fortune finally turned here in Ahmedabad and it appeared a good one to win.

The tourists lost Mark Butcher the ball after he had brought up his half-century, pushing off the back foot at an Anil Kumble googly to be taken behind by Deep Dasgupta.

Then the controversy began as Hussain was adjudged leg before to another Kumble 'wrong 'un' that appeared to be missing leg-stump by Robinson, the umpire who incensed New Zealand recently with his decisions against Australia.

But it got worse for Hussain's men shortly before tea as Vaughan - only in the side because Graham Thorpe has returned home for personal reasons - was given out caught by Virender Sehwag at short leg despite the ball appearing to strike him on the pad.

Trescothick dominated the middle session by scoring 63 out of 96.

Earlier, despite some early movement from Javagal Srinath and Tinu Yohannan, Butcher and Trescothick survived the initial torrent and went on to prosper.

The pair also rode their luck a little, Trescothick top-edging a hook off Srinath that plugged in no-man's land and Butcher twice slicing the same bowler through the gaping void between third slip and gully.

Butcher was also dropped by VVS Laxman at second slip off Srinath shortly after lunch when on 39 and survived a half-chance which fell short of substitute fielder Connor Williams at short leg off Kumble.

Trescothick, who brought up his second half-century of the series in the same over, swept effectively throughout.

One such shot thudded into the back of Shiv Sunder Das, forcing the close catcher off the field again after exactly the same incident occurred last week.

Having reached his milestone in 95 balls, the England vice-captain hoisted Harbhajan Singh over square-leg for six and continued his positive intent, using his feet to good effect.

Butcher combined his streaky stuff with some fluent drives straight and through the covers - he took 12 from Srinath's third over - to reach his 50 with his ninth four.

With only two front-line seamers in the Indian side, Harbhajan, introduced as early as the 10th over of the morning, and spin partner Kumble, with whom he had shared 15 wickets in the first Test, were burdened with most of the bowling.

Meanwhile, England will have to make do without Thorpe for the rest of the series after the Surrey left-hander was permitted to return home to attend to personal matters.

Thorpe, one of England's best players of the turning ball and the most experienced on tour with 70 caps, top-scored with 62 in the second innings of the first Test defeat at Mohali.

Apart from his absence, England reintroduced the fit-again Ashley Giles who ousted paceman James Ormond on a ground receptive to spin.

India welcomed back Sehwag, following his one-match suspension for excessive appealing, and Srinath, who was kept out of the series opener with a fractured palm.

One other change in this Test was made by match referee Denis Lindsay, who decided play should begin half an hour later each day than the scheduled 9.30am start.

The South African official suggested that would remove any disadvantage for either side in the opening overs from either a dew-tinged wicket or wet out-field.

As with Mohali, floodlights at the stadium will be used should the light recede in the final session.